Suction cleaner



-1 1932. D. G. SMELLI'E 7 1,842,213

SUCTION CLEANER Fild Oct. 24, 1929 lib Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE DONALD G. SMELLIE, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PORATION OF OHIO SUCTION HOOVER comimmz, A con- CLEANER Application filed October 24, 1929. Serial No. 402,002.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to suctionproducing fans for suction cleaners. In the modern suction cleaner the use of a high vacuum necessitates a high-speed fan which in turn requires that the driving motor run at a very high speed. The resultis often that its motor runs at a high temperature because of the dirt-protected sealed condition and inadequate cooling facilities, and its life is materially shortened. The fact that the driving motor is positioned adjacent the fan chamber through which the cleaning air passes makes possible the removal of a part of the motor heat through the metal tome'tal contact of the motor casing and the fan casing but in the usual cleaner this metal to metal contact area is relatively small. It is also not feasible to permit air to pass from the high pressure part of the fan chamber, which is ordinarily the part in contact with the bottom of the motor casing, into and through the motor for, although a cooling effect would be produced, the resulting deposit uponthe motor of the foreign matter in the air would result in greater damage than the benefit from the cooling would warrant. The solution of the problem has been to draw air from the motor casing into the fan chamber and exhaust it with the cleaning air and the present invention is directed towards means whereby cooling air may be drawn through the motor casing with the greatest efficiency. I

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and novel fan for suction cleaners. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compound fan for suction cleaners comprising a single shrouded fan and adouble shrouded fan. It is a still further objectof the present invention to provide a fan for suction cleaners in which the motor-ventilating fan forms an integral part of the suction-creating fan of the cleaner. .It is a still further object of thepresent invention to provide a new and simple motor-cooling fan for suction cleaners. Other and more specific objects will appear. upon reading the specification and considering the drawing annexed thereto. Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a side view of a common suction cleaner with certain parts broken away and partly in section, showing a fan constructed in accordance with the present invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a fan constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2. g

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, a suction cleaner is shown and indicated by the reference character 1. Cleaner 1 comprises the usual parts found in a suction cleaner including a main casting 2 which forms the suction nozzle 3, the fan casing 4, the fan intake chamber 5 and the exhaust outlet 6. Motor casing 7 which houses the drivingmotor, not shown, is carried by the main casting 2 and the bottom plate 8 of said casing forms the closure for the 'top of the fan chamber 4. The shaft 9 of the driving motor extends through the bottom plate 8, eing rotatably mounted in the bearing 10, into the fan chamber 4 where it carries the suction-creating fan, indicated by the reference character 11. The suction cleaner is supported upon the surface covering b front supportinfg wheels, one of which is in icated by the re erence character 12, porting wheels,

character 13.

14 is secured'to the exhaust outlet 6 and is adapted, in the operation of the cleaner, to receive the dirt-laden airwhich is drawn through the nozzle 3 into the fan chamber 4 and exhausted through the exhaust outlet 6 by the action of the motor-driven fan 11.

'indicated by the reference The general arrangement of the cleaner deand rear sup-' i A dirt-receiving receptacle which forms a shroud, as will hereinafter be explained, of relatively thin sheet metal which is provided at spaced intervals with radially extending channels or grooves 19, 19. The lower faces of the grooves 19, 19 contact the shroud 15 throughout their length and serve to space the plate 18 at a distance from the shroud 15 which is equal to the depth of the channels 19. Securing members, such as screws 20, 20, are provided which are seated within the channels 19, 19 and which extend therethrough into the shroud 15 maintaining said parts in fixed relation. As the grooves 19, 19 contact the shroud 15 across the width of the plate 18 individual sectors are formed each having a height equal to the distance separating the two shrouds. The inner edge 21 of plate 18 between the channels 19, 19 is flared outwardly away from the shroud 15 for a purpose which is hereinafter described.

Referring to Figure 1 again the compound fan indicated generally by character 11 is shown positioned within the fan chamber .4

- upon the driving motor shaft 9. With the fan in position the plate 18 upon the shroud 15 is positioned between said shroud and the bottom plate 8 of the motor casing 7 and the inner flange 21 of the plate 18 closely surrounds the circularly arranged openings 22, 22 in said bottom plate. Downwardly. extending shoulders or rims 23 and 24 are provided upon the bottom plate 8 which extend closely adjacent the plane of the plate 18 at its inner and outer peripheries.

In the operation of the cleaner the blades 17, 17 etc. function to create a reduced pressure at the bottom center of the fan chamber which opens into the intake housing 5. A positive pressure area is created at the periphery of the fan which, in the absence of any means to counteract it, would extend across the back of the fan and contact the motor casing bottom plate. The obvious result of the difference 1n pressures created by the blades 17, 17 is to draw air from the nozzle 3 and exhaust it through the exhaust outlet 6. Upon the rotation of the fan the radially extending channels 19,19 which extend from the plane of the plate 18 to the shroud 15 function as fan blades drawing air in at the inner periphery of the plate 18, where the u turned lips 21 serve as guides to deflect tl J entering air into the sectors. The rims 23 and 24, which extend into close proximity of the plane of the plate 18, substantially prevent the leakage of air back from the periphery of usual simplicity has been provided. Through the positioning on the outside of the shroud of the suction fan of the cleaner of a plate having channels therein a double shrouded fan has been provided which may be used to draw the warm air from the motor casing. The cooperation of the bottom plate of the motor makes possible greater efiiciency.

I claim 1. A fan for suction cleaners comprisin a main suction-creating fan including a we with fan blades carried thereby and a second fan mounted on said main suction fan comprising'a plate formed with radially-extend ing depressed channels which su portsaid plateon said main fan and which unction as fan blades.

2. A fan for suction cleaners characterized by the fact that said fan comprises a main suction-creating fan including a web and blades and a motor ventilating fan formed by a plate having channels carried on the web of said main suction fan.

3. A compound fan comprising a single shrouded and a double shrouded fan characterized by the fact that said double shrouded fan is formed by a stamped plate iecured on the backof said single shrouded 4. A compound fan comprising a main single shrouded fan, an auxiliary double shrouded fan on the back of said main fan, characterized by the fact that said auxiliary fan comprises a plate formed with radiallyextending depressed portions forming blades and with an inner circular flange extending at an angle to said plate.

Signed at North Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, this 17th day of October, A. D., 1929.

DONALD G. SMELLIE.

the fan between the plate 18 and the bottom I plate 8, thereby making it possible for the entire draft of the fan formed by the shrouds 15 and 18 and the channels 19' to be used in drawing air from the motor casing through the openings 22, 22.

From the foregomg it'is clear that a compound suction and motor-cooling fan of un- 

